Chapter 1

The sound of Etta's squeals and splashing, and Olivia's teasing voice seemed to fade away as Peter stood in the foyer. The rest of the mail lay forgotten on the table as he studied the simple outline of a tulip and the envelope in which it was delivered… from Walter, postmarked only a couple of days ago. A day when Walter had seemed quieter than usual.

Suddenly, he was overcome by a rush of emotion – it wasn't déjà vu, he hadn't had this experience before, but he KNEW. He'd felt the same way earlier in the park as he called to Etta and held his arms wide for her. There was something about that moment, something important, something he should know.

He shook his head and closed his eyes briefly. It's just the sun, he thought, being outside all afternoon on one of the last really nice fall days in Boston. And then he KNEW…

ooo

Gray suits and fedoras coming out of nowhere, coming over the hill. Screaming and running for Etta, Liv right behind him, reaching for her, seeing the terror in Etta's eyes as she called for him and stretched out her arms…. Then nothing.

Days on end, searching hospitals, refuge centers, morgues…

Arguments with Liv, days without speaking, then terse voice mails and text messages. Nights with their backs to each other, if he came home at all. Finally, a hurried lunch in a crowded restaurant, both of them begging, in their own way; Olivia, for him to come to New York with her and fight the invasion; him, insisting that Etta was still alive, that he'd find her on the next list of centers, in the next town. She'd turned her face away from him to hide her disappointment; she kept it averted when they stood, when he tried to kiss her. He settled for an awkward embrace, brushing his lips against her cheek and knowing she wouldn't be there the next time he came home.

Arguments with Walter; Olivia needed him, Walter needed him, when all Peter could think was that Walter, of all people, should know the feeling of losing a child. He helped him in the lab when he could, when he was waiting for phone calls to be returned, missing persons reports to be filed, lists of names from the shelters springing up across the country to be faxed.

He was about to head to the West Coast. He'd gotten some new leads, rumors that people were being shuffled from coast to coast to avoid reunions with their families and further undermine what little social stability remained. Walter had insisted that he meet 'them'; Peter assumed Walter meant Olivia, back from one of her tours of duty in New York, as he'd begun to think of them. He wanted to see her one more time before he left, to hang on to what frayed connection still existed between them.

When he entered the building, he glanced around the unfamiliar location. It was a lab, haphazardly arranged, much like Walter's lab at Harvard. He couldn't see Walter, but he heard his voice near the back, arguing heatedly with another man.

"Walter, where the hell are you?" he called out crossly. He didn't have time for this, he thought, he needed to be on the road. "Walter!"

The voices continued, but he saw Astrid hurrying from the back of the building. "Peter, I'm so glad you're here. We're getting ready to…"

"Astrid, what does he want? I'm leaving for California this afternoon. Is Olivia here?" He glanced around as he strode in the direction Astrid had come from, forcing her to break into a run to keep up with him.

"Peter, you can't! We need you here. Walter needs – "

"I don't give a damn what Walter needs. Etta needs me more." Peter stopped suddenly as he recognized the voice arguing with Walter. He whirled to face Astrid, who wouldn't look him in the eye.

"What is that sonovabitch doing here? How did he get here? " He headed in the direction of the voices, his hands in tight fists and his jaw clenching.

"Peter, wait!" Astrid scurried to catch up with him, and laid a small hand on his arm. "It's his lab. Walter needed another place to work besides Harvard, and it's safer for Olivia to come here."

"It's safer for Olivia to be in a lab with Walter and William Bell?" he scoffed. "The world's become more fucked up than I realized." He paused, listening for her voice. "She's not here?"

Astrid looked down, but she didn't let go of his arm. "No, she left again this morning for New York. She's picking up something for Walter, but she wanted to talk to you if you showed up."

As he reached for his cell phone, Astrid stilled his arm. "Use this one. She's expecting a call from this number and she's #2 on speed dial."

He accepted the proffered phone, but continued to glare at the petite woman stubbornly planted in front of him. Olivia answered on the first ring.

"Astrid, have you seen Pe-"

Peter sighed heavily. "Liv, it's me. Where are you?"

"Peter…" She almost sounded relieved to hear his voice. "I'm on my way to New York." She hesitated, then continued with a softer tone in her voice. "Peter, please stay there. Things are getting worse, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to move around freely, and I don't want us to be separated… in case…" she drew a deep breath. "In case something happens. I'll be there tonight and you can come back with us."

"No, Liv, I can't." His voice was weary, and more than a little irritated. "That's even more reason for me to get out of town while I still can. I'll wait for you if you'll come with me."

Her voice was sharper this time. "Peter, you know I can't do that. I need to be here, not running across the country for no good reason."

Peter gritted his teeth, and Astrid moved a few more steps away. When he spoke again, his voice was low and measured, but there was no way to mistake the intensity of his anger. "Olivia, I'm 'running across the country' for a very…good…reason. I'm looking for our daughter, in case you forgot."

"Peter. Peter, she's… she's… " Even though she believed that Etta was dead, Olivia still couldn't bring herself to say it. If she didn't say the words, she didn't have to think about it right then, she could push it to the back of her mind and think about it later. "You're being selfish. Walter and I… we need you."

Peter snorted. "Selfish? Well, maybe I am. I'm not giving up on her, Livia. If that's selfish… then it is. For the last time, will you come with me to help me find our daughter?"

There was a long silence. Peter looked at the face of the phone to make sure the connection still held.

"No, Peter."

A pained look crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced with the grim, determined expression he wore most often since the invasion a couple of months ago. He pressed the disconnect button without replying, then silently returned the phone to Astrid and walked heavily to the back of the cluttered building.

ooo

Hours later, Peter found Astrid keying rapidly into a laptop. She looked up at him with arched eyebrows. "Well?"

He grimaced. "I'm in… for now."

"It's important, Peter. They're so close, and it could make a difference for all of us…" Astrid's voice trailed off.

"Instead of just one father, and one child?" Peter's voice had a bitter edge. "We all know how well THAT turns out."

He was frustrated, and angry, but after hearing Walter's plan, what there was of it, he felt he had to stay. What use was finding Etta if they'd missed their best chance to rid the world of those bald-headed bastards… and somebody with a relatively level head needed to stick around to keep an eye on Bell.

Astrid kept her eyes on the laptop screen; she knew Peter's harsh words were rooted in his anguish over losing Etta, but they hurt, nonetheless. Despite her feelings, and his, they had to stick together. Walter had convinced her that this was their last chance; if they didn't succeed now, Walter surmised, the Observers would continue their domination, not just here, but all over the world. Reports had been trickling in… France, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Mumbai – the same thing was happening everywhere.

"You're here, now. That's what matters." She glanced up at Peter, who was pacing restlessly. "Do you want to call Olivia?"

"Do you think she'll care?" At her exasperated look, he held up his hands as a sign of apology. "Sorry, sorry…"

He stretched out his hand and Astrid gave him her cell without comment, but smiled sadly as he walked away.

Four calls… all straight to voice mail. She's busy, nothing to worry about, Peter kept telling himself. Finally, he gave in.

"Liv… it's me. I'm still with Walter. He's given me an update and I'm staying… for now. I'll be here when you're back from New York. Liv…" He scrubbed his hands over his face. "Olivia, I'm sorry. I know this is hard for you, too. I'm still going to LA. I can't give up, but I'll help you and Walter get started. And Liv… I want to see you before I leave. Be careful." He took a deep breath. "Liv, I lo-"

"Peter! I need you!" Walter's voice commanded his attention and he hit the disconnect key.

He hurried into the alcove where he'd last seen Walter. Astrid stood beside him, a worried look on her face.

"What is it, Walter? Where's Bell?"

"Not important. Peter, this is to protect us. And the plan. Think of something pleasant."

"What? What's going on, Wal-" Peter's eyes dropped to the small ambering device in his father's hands. "What the hell? Walter, don't!"

And as he saw the gas escaping from the canister in Walter's hands, he thought of Etta, and Olivia, and how much he would miss them.